Process of forming bellows



, S. F. .ARBUCKLE.

PROCESS OF FORMING BELLOWS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE30. 1919.

Fatented Feb. 8, 1921.-

2 SHEETSSHEET l- INVENTOR. 5/9/7054 A fiiduc/m S. F. ARBUCKLE.

PROCESS OF FORMING BELLOWS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30.1919.

1,367,792. Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIE 8 INVENTOR. flMz/EL f flaws/(z ,5

A TTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAFHIUEL F. ABBUCKLE, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

PROCESS or roimme BELLows;

To all whom it mag concern:

Be itknown that I, SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Processof Forming Bellows; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts. I

This invention relates to a process for forming metal bellows adapted to be used for actuating purposes, and controlled by the action of pressure and vacuum as the case may warrant.

The main feature of the invention 111- volves a process for forming bellows from sheet metal in such a manner that they will be completely air tight, and be made rapidly in quantities. It has been found for certain purposes that bellows made from leather or other flexible and porous substances are not sufficiently air tight, and it is therefore necessary to form the bellows from a more substantial and air tight substance, such a metal, which will maintain its flexibility and durability to receive exceptional usage. For these reasons, and to overcome the objections of other types of bellows, the following process has been conceived, which will be more fully disclosed in the drawings and specification.

One of the features of the invention is the means for securing the units together and in communication with each other in such a manner that the securing material will not enter the inside of the units. This is accomplished by first securing them together, and then forming a communicating passage therethrough after the material has become hardened.

Referring to the drawings, which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of a stamped blank of sheet metal. Fig. 2 shows the stamping folded over forming two sides of a single unit.

Fig. 3 shows a single completed unit. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical section of a plurality of units secured together in compressed position. Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 5 showing the units in expanded position. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a plate of sheet metal in circular form. Fig.

8 is an edge view showing two of said plates 1 one superimposed upon the other. Fig. 9 is a central diametric section through the plates in F ig. 8 showing the first step in clamping and uniting the edges. Figs. 10 and 11 are similar sections showing succeeding steps. F 1g. 12 is a plan "iew of theunit after the edges of the two plates are secured together as shown in Fig. 11.

The process of forming a metal bellows consists of taking a thin and flexible sheet of metallic substance 10 and stamping out a Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d F b. 8, 1921 I I. Application filed June so, 1919. Serial No. 807,728. I

blank 11. The blank 11 is then folded over as shown in Fig. 2 so that each side of the blank will form opposite sides of the single unit 12 of the bellows. The outwardly projecting edges 13 are then folded over three times on the lines 14, 15.and 16 respectively so as to secure the fouredges of the sides together as shown in Fig. 3. The opposite edges are folded in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 4, to prevent the metal from buckling.

After the edges have been folded so as to secure them together, the corners 17, are soldered or secured by any suitable means so as to retain the edges in their folded position and completely close the unit so that it will be, air tight.

The single unit having been formed, a

pluralityof units are then secured together in the following manner so as to function as a bellows. The metal washers 18 are dipped in solder and tinned and then placed in position between the assembled units, as shown in Fig. 5. Heat is applied to the center of ,the outer units by a spot welder, or other suitable means, so that the solder on the .tinned washers will be melted so as to adhereto thesurface of the units and completely seal both sides of the washer thereto, as shown in Fig. 5. The metal walls of the units within the holes of the washer are then cut out byany suitabletool, as shown in Fig: 6, and the tube 19 attached on one side thereof in the same manner, through which air may be forced into or withdrawn from said bellows. On the opposite end thereof a disk 20 is likewise secured to close the outer opening and afford means for attaching any desired actuating mechanism thereto, whereby the operable device is completed. This type of bellows is particularly adapted for use with pressure and vacuum where it is'essential that there be absolutely no leakage, such as is necessary in connection with the vacuum created by the suction of an internal combustion engine. While the process herein described relates to a bellows of a substantially square type, oblong or circular bellows may be made in a similar way, the circular bellows by crimping the edges and folding them over as above set forth.

' It will be noted therefore that by means of the above process the tedious and ex- 1gensive means of forming metal bellows by rst cutting the holes through each unit and then soldering the edges thereof together, whereby the solder would be liable to enter and form on the inside of the units, or by building up unit upon unit having formed flanged openings and telescoping them and then soldering the telescoped flanged openings, is greatly improved and the art advanced. This process of forming the bellows will enable them to be rapidly formed in quantities by simply clamping the units together with the tinned washers between them, applying the heat and puncturing them through the center. As the units are clamped securely together under pressure andthe heat is applied in the center of the outer unit, the washers mounted between them will prevent expansion of the metal from wrinkling at the surface adjacent the washers and permitting leakage, the expansion of the metal being forced to take place on the outside thereof. It will be understood that the washers, which in addition serve to strengthen and support the units, may be secured thereto by applying the solder or other securing material to the central surface of the units instead of the washers, the same result being obtained by either method. The washers also permit on to ascertain before hand the proper sur ace area of the unit to be soldered.

In Figs. 7 to 12 thereis shown the C11- cular form of unit and the steps during the formation thereof. Fig. 9 shows the edge partially bent and crimped. Fig. 10 shows the same being bent and crimped. Fig. 11 shows the edges folded and pressed down tightly together, whereby the edges of the two disks will be secured together, but the edges of the disks can be moved away from each other, as shown in Fig. 6. A series of w the units is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 which unite and work centrally, as shown in Fig.

6, to form the bellows.

The invention claimed is: 1

1. The process of forming a metal bellows consisting of stamping double blanks, folding each of said blanks so as to form two sides of a single unit, folding over the corresponding edges of the two sides together so as to secure them to each other, securing the corners thereof so as to make said unit rality of said units, forming a continuous opening through sald unlts and disks for permitting fluid to enter therein for operatingsaid bellows, and securing a tube on one side thereof and a disk on the other side thereof for closing said opening.

3. The process of forming metal bellows from sheet metal, which process consists of stampingthe sheet metal into blanks of the desired shape and size, placing the stampings together, folding their adjacent edges, securing said edges together so as to form 'an air tight unit, securing a plurality of the .units' thus formed together and forming a communication between said units, whereby they may be expanded or contracted by fluid pressure.

4:. The process of forming metal bellows consisting of forming a plurality of individual airtight units, placing saidunits to-- gether, securing metal disks between said units, forming a communication between said units through said disks, and closing one end of said communication and leaving the other end open, whereby fluid may be introduced into said units for causing each of them to expand, and withdrawn so as to cause each of them to contract.

5. The process of forming metal bellows, consisting of forming individual air tight units, placing said units together, tinning a plurality of metal disks and mounting thembetween said units, applying heat upon said disks for causing them to be soldered .to said units, and forming an opening through said units and disks for permitting the introduction of fluid therein.-

6. The process of forming metal bellows,

consisting of stamping a double blank, folding said blank so as to form two sides of a. single unitffolding over the corresponding edges of each side together, securing the corners thereof so as to make said unit air tight, placinga plurality of units together tinning a plurality of metal disks mounting said disks between said units, applying heat within said disks so as to solder them to said units, forming a continuous opening through said disks for permitting fluid to enter therein for operating said bellows, and securing a tube on one slde thereof and a disk on the other side thereof for closing said opening.

7. The process of forming metal bellows, consisting of forming a plurality of individual air tight units, placing said units together, securing metal reinforcements between said units, and forming an opening through said units and metal reinforcements for permitting the introduction of fluid therein. p

8. The process of forming metal bellows, consisting of forming a plurality of individual air tight units, placing said units together, mounting reinforcements between said units, applying means for causing said reinforcements and units to be secured together, and forming an opening therethrough for permitting the introduction of fluid therein. v a

9. The process of forming metal bellows, consisting of forming a plurality of individual air tight units, providing means between each of said units for securing them together and forming an opening through said units after they have been secured together for the introduction of fluid therein. 10. The process of forming metal bellows, consisting of forming a plurality of individual expansible air tight units, securing said units to each other successively in series, and forming an opening through the connections between said units for the introduction of fluid therein.

11. The process of forming metal bellows consisting of forming'a pluralityof individual expansible air tight units, securing said units to each other successively in series by connecting limited adjacent areas thereof, and forming an opening through gether portions of the adjacent side surfaces of the successive units, and forming an open ing through the connected portions of said units so as to form communications between the interiors of said units and yet leave the same air tight for the introduction of fluid therein.

14. The process of forming a metal bellows consisting in uniting two flexible plates side by side at their peripheries to form an individual air tight unit, placing a plurality of said units side by side and securing together portions of the adjacent side surfaces of the successive units so that the connections between the units will be in alinement with each other, and thereafter forming an opening through the connections between said units for causing the chambers in said units to be in communication with each other for the introduction of fluid therein.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE. 

